CHICAGO — While you were out enjoying the gorgeous weather yesterday, local news might not have been on the top of your mind. From Spike Lee's controversial Chicago-based movie to the addictive video of a golf cart gone rogue, read on to catch up on this week's news.
• We begin with director Spike Lee's newly announced "Chiraq" film: Writer Mark Konkol reported that Lee sought about $3 million in tax breaks. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Ald. Will Burns (4th) took issue with the negative connotations of the film's title, which compares Chicago's violence to that of an Iraq war zone.
"I’m just saying if you’re going to take the subsidy, the public should be given a seat at the table," Burns told Konkol. "It’s our money, and it’s our city.”
• In a very different type of filmmaking, reporter Benjamin Woodard discovered a video Thursday of a driverless golf cart gone rogue. Bonus: Police respond by smashing a window to take control of the vehicle.
There's not much more to say, you'll just have to see the cart's jaunty dance for yourself — we promise, it's worth the entire three-plus minutes.
• Construction will begin Monday on the Lincoln Hub at the intersection of Southport, Lincoln and Wellington avenues, including "wooden planters and benches, along with a sidewalk polka-dot art installation inspired by Oriental rug designs," Ariel Cheung reported. The bright blue and green dots will be hard to miss — check out this rendering of how it will look.
• Speaking of beautification projects, this regal poster of Mahalia Jackson, the "Queen of Gospel," appeared on a residential building in Chatham last month. Andrea V. Watson reported that the owner of the building wanted to start a "positive imaging campaign" that combat the stigma of Chatham.
• In other development news, the controversial "Twin Towers" project in Logan Square is moving along despite competing petitions from neighbors either vehemently supporting and opposing the buildings, Darryl Holliday reported Thursday.
The 11- and 12-story residential towers will need to pass through another committee before heading to the full City Council for final approval.
• In Morgan Park this week, it was a standing-room only crowd at O'Rourke's Office for their inaugural reading series, The Frunchroom, which featured our very own Jen Sabella.
"The name of the quarterly series is Chicago-ese for the front room of a house, a place where city-dwellers have long gatehred to share stories," the organizer of the event told reporter Howard Ludwig.
It was the latest of successful arts and entertainment events hosted by the Beverly Area Arts Alliance.
• Have you seen the orange recycling Sticker of Shame? Many have, even though they won't admit it. Saving the environment can be confusing, Patty Wetli wrote in a recent Block Club blog post.
Some of the most common recycling mistakes include coffee cups, garden hoses and any aluminum foil that's touched food. Read on to ensure your blue bin will be kosher with the Streets and San folks.
• Lastly, this week in Schadenfreude: A 23-year-old man exchanged cash with a Craigslist scammer for counterfeit Bulls tickets.
But instead of complaining on Facebook like most others would do, the man contacted the police and helped to set up a sting, reported Erica Demarest. The counterfeiter was caught and charged with two counts of forgery.
It might not be as great as catching a game at the United Center, but catching the scammer must have been sweet, sweet revenge.
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